Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(92)

“No—you’re making this up just like he said you all would,” Billy said, shaking his head.

“Do you think I could make this shit up?” I asked incredulously.

“She’s not,” Luke said.

Billy glared at Luke. “Oh, please. Like you wouldn’t lie for her.”

“We’re not lying. Just like I’m not lying about the fact that yesterday, Mathias threatened me and our grandparents.”

“Oh, now I know you’re lying,” he snapped.

“Then how do I know that during one of your conversations with Mathias or Helen, you told them about what I did to Meriwether? That Luke lied to protect me? That you told them our grandparents don’t declare everything on their taxes? I didn’t even know that, Billy, so how do I know it now? Mathias told me he’d call the FBI and IRS on us. How could I know you told him these things, Billy, if he didn’t tell me? He tried to blackmail me, just like he had you blackmail your friend Kevin.”



“He wouldn’t. I…” Billy’s mouth shut again. He had to look away from us. “Y-you just want me to turn on them. Give evidence. You’d say anything to build a case against him. You want to use me. I—”

I stepped toward him. “No, what I want is to get you the fuck out of here and straight to a lawyer, because one of two things is about to happen. Agent Carmichael has evidence drugs were transported in your vehicle. He’s made a fucking mess of his case and he’ll take any victory he can. You are a weak link. He’ll come for you, arrest you, show you hard proof of everything I’ve just said, and when that happens…you’re a threat to your precious guru. He’s had witnesses murdered before. I very much doubt it will matter that you knocked up his great-granddaughter when he’s facing life in prison.” Billy looked up at me. “Scenario two is he just won’t wait for them to arrest you. He’ll neutralize the threat before it becomes one. He’s losing control, Billy. He will do anything to maintain as much control as he can right now. You’re in danger, Billy. Mortal fucking danger. You and everyone here. If I could herd everyone into a bus and haul ass off the property, I would. But I can’t. I can, however, save you, if you let me. Billy, we have to go. Now.”

“Your sister and I are risking a lot being here,” Luke added. “Obstruction charges. Exposure on Meriwether. She wouldn’t do that if this wasn’t life and death. Your sister loves you. She’s risked her freedom and life for you despite all the crap you said to her yesterday. You are damn lucky to have her. So wake up, Ballard. You are either going to end up in prison or dead if you don’t listen to her. And that will break her heart. It will break your mother’s heart. Your grandparents’. Your entire family’s. And they may not be perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and they may infuriate you on an hourly basis, they may tell you horrible truths that strike you to your very core, but they love you. Really love you. No strings attached. They would risk their livelihood. Their reputation. They would die for you, Billy. That is true family. Not people who use you as a drug mule and take all your hard-earned money.



“And I see it in your eyes. There’s doubt. Your eyes are open enough to see this place is wrong. You can’t unsee it now. So listen to your damn sister, and let’s get the hell out of here. We’ll see a lawyer. Get you away from this place, even if it’s just for the night. Let us protect you. Please.”

And that was it. The moment. The moment I realized I was in love with him. The moment I let myself be in love with him. I stared at my fierce partner, my best friend, and I knew I was in love with him. I was already an emotional wreck, but this revelation knocked the wind out of me. I wanted to kiss him, to leap into his arms and kiss every centimeter of his face, but I couldn’t move. Hell, I could barely breathe. The rest of the world just fell away for that moment.

But only for that moment.

“What about Betsy?” Billy asked, bringing me back to horrid reality.

“What about her?” I asked, not thinking.

“She’s my wife, Iris,” he replied. “I can’t just leave her. And she won’t leave. She loves Mathias more than anything. Would you leave Luke?”

“No,” I said instantly. “Fuck no. But Luke isn’t Betsy. If it came down to you or Mathias, do you really think she’d pick you? She manipulated you into getting her pregnant. I have no doubt about that now. She learned from a master. She’s not worth your life, Billy. Love is a two-way street. It is give and take, and all she has done is take from you. She’s using you just like her grandfather is.”



“She’s…my…wife,” he said, drawing out every word. “She’s pregnant with my child. I can’t leave her. I can’t.”

“Billy…”

“I am not leaving my child!” he snapped. “I won’t. I can’t. She’s carrying my child, Iris. Nothing matters but that.”

The Ballard stubbornness streak struck again. He was resolute; I saw it in his eyes. The set jaw. The squared shoulders. At least he’d listened to me. He’d heard me. Those eyes were wide open. But he wouldn’t leave. He was in too deep. He was too nice a man. He’d made his choice and he’d chosen his child. I couldn’t fault him for that.